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Rani didn't look impressed, as if she'd seen this kind of thing before. "Okay, now you're just showing off." She crossed her arms, regaining her composure. "And by purpose, I meant 'what is your purpose here?' But you already knew that, didn't you?" She was annoyed about having her quest interrupted. On the other hand, he might have a token...

Rani looked Sid up and down. Then she turned to Resh. "Alright, it's safe."

Resh eyed the group wearily. "Could we speak somewhere more private?"

Rani shrugged. "Sure." She turned to Khan. "I'm sure you can handle welcoming the newcomer. You can fill him in on our quest." She turned back to Resh. "Alright, let's go." She followed him to a small clearing away from the others.

"My name is Resh." Resh introduced himself to Rani.
"Rani. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself sooner."
"You mentioned something about the token?" Resh didn't call the token by its name, testing Rani to see if she was the one he was supposed to give the token to.
"The Token of Chan, the Aerial Token." Rani knew that he was just testing her.
Resh nodded, finally relaxed his bow. Reaching into a pouch strapped around his waist, he took out a silver coin. "I believe this is what you are looking for."
Rani stepped forward and retrieved the token from Resh. "Thank you."
Resh hesitated. "Could I join you in your quest?"
Rani looked up at him, a quizzical expression on her face.
"I've always wanted a life of adventure." He explained, a faint smile on his lips.
Rani smiled back at him. "Of course. The more the merrier!"

Rani was a bit startled by Sid's sudden appearance, but she didn't let it show. But at the news that the shadow walker delivered, she didn't bother trying to disguise her distress. "Oh, God. Not again." She said, turning to leave the clearing. She turned back to Resh. "I'm so sorry, but I have to go."

Resh only nodded. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had the feeling that it would never be a dull moment with this crowd.

Rani was at Khan's side in mere moments. He was screaming in pain, holding his head. Rani swore under her breath, knowing it was the flashbacks. She looked up sharply at Amara. "Get back!" Her eyes flashed to something feral and her voice held a slight growl. Despite her sudden turn, she gently (but firmly) grabbed Khan's hands away from his head. He was writhing in pain, but she managed to pin his arms down by allowing some animal strength to seep into her body. The last thing I need is for him to hurt himself... "Khan. Khan. Listen to me. It's not real. Listen to my voice. It's not real." She said sternly. In the heat of the moment, she didn't realize that she had shifted her body so that she was straddling Khan to keep him from thrashing about from his pain. "Khan! Listen to me. It's okay. You're okay. They can't hurt you."

Resh had wandered out to the clearing and watched silently, merely an observer.

Rani landed heavily to the ground as she was pushed off. The bad energy from the flashbacks had almost caused her to shift into a wolf, but she had held them off. Now that Khan had shifted, she couldn't hold the beast back and shifted into a wolf herself. She shook out her gray pelt and looked around at the three who were watching. With a huff, she followed Khan. He's in so much pain... She didn't rush, but rather followed Khan's scent. This was the worst it's been. I'll have to take some of his pain if he doesn't pull himself together. She lengthened her stride, resolve compelling her forward.

Rani's keen wolf ears picked up on the sound of a creek up ahead. A few moments later, she heard the splash of Khan falling in. She broke into a run, imagining the worst. She misjudged the distance of the creek and slid down the muddy bank. She quickly shifted into a tiger, claws gouging into the mud. She slid down the bank, her back paws dipping into the water. She glanced around and saw Khan's unconscious human form pushed against a rock. I'm glad I chose a tiger over a leopard. Tigers are good swimmers. She twisted into the water and swam to Khan's limp body. Grabbing his shirt with her teeth, she pulled him to the opposite bank, which was flat and grassy. She shifted back into her human form, dripping wet and panting from the effort of fight the current. "Khan." She took a gulp of air and moved closer. "Khan! Wake up." She then noticed the grass turning dark beneath his head. She touched the spot and her fingers came away red with blood. "s**t..." She muttered. She cradled his head in her hands tenderly, being careful not to hurt him anymore. I have to heal him. But will he know what I'm about to do means? She didn't dwell on her slight misgivings any longer; she bent down and kissed Khan, drawing the pain from him into her. She gently moved a hand over his head wound and poured healing energy into the touch. The cut knit itself back together and Rani drew back from the kiss.

"Yes, I healed you." Rani said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I found you by ---"

Rani was stunned at first, but then she smiled against the kiss. "She pulled back slightly, just enough to say something. "I beat you to it," her words came out as a breath. "That's how I took your pain." She was still grinning.